So I have an interview at Guitar Center today......

[GODSENT]

dont hurt me



what should i expect? i have experience in sales, and i LOVE music, i know a bit about bass, bass gear and keyboard synths since those are my primary instruments......and im really looking foward to the discounts, not so much worried about the money cuz i have income from other sources comming in .....

[Gord_oh]

im hoping i get a call back from my local GC too.
they will ask you common wood types of certain guitars and what kind of sound they have. difference in split coil, single coil, humbuckers. they just want to make sure you know your stuff.

[DaveDeVille]

best of luck with the interview !!



get ready to listen to endless hours of guitar wanking , bass slapping , drum banging , etc.,etc.

i have friends who work in music stores , and they say that after a while , you learn to ignore the noise ...

[Tampabass]

Hey, I have no idea about what to expect as a Guitar Center employee, but I can give you some general advice regarding a successful job interview.

Look the interviewer in the eye.
Dress appropriately - if you're not sure, err on the side of overdressing.
Don't fidget.
Research all you can about the company so you can go let them know you're ready to hit the ground running - you're already well informed on what brands they carry, their customer service policies, etc.
On the other hand, don't come off as a know-it-all (even if you do know way more than they do).
Convey, without bragging, the idea that you understand what musicians want/need, because of your background as a musician.
And most importantly (drum roll) act as if you REALLY WANT the job. Too often, job candidates try to play it too cool and act as if it doesn't matter either way whether they get the job. In this economy (blah blah blah, etc., etc.) that doesn't work.

Sorry if you already know this, but I thought I'd pass it on.

[jaywa]

This may just be urban legend, but I've heard that GC stores will ding you from a sales position if you're in a regularly gigging band or otherwise gig a lot. Makes it harder to schedule you on weekends, evenings, etc. which is when they usually need the most people on the floor. Also they want to make sure your first priority is your job at the store, not whatever you've got going on musically.

Personally, as a gigging musician I prefer to buy from other gigging musicians, but from a store operations point of view I can see why GC would roll the way they do.

So the OP may want to keep those references to "other sources of income" on the down-low during the interview until and unless specifically asked...

[Staccato]

Let's see, be a good listener in the interview, and when it is your turn to talk:

"I understand the importance of 'listening' to customers, and moving products, whether it is helping them find what they need, or allowing them to talk themselves into gear..."

^Those are magic words to many interviewers in retail...

[GODSENT]

Originally Posted by Gord_oh

im hoping i get a call back from my local GC too.
they will ask you common wood types of certain guitars and what kind of sound they have. difference in split coil, single coil, humbuckers. they just want to make sure you know your stuff.

I did that for the online application, hopefully they dont ask me about that again! lol

Originally Posted by david meissner

best of luck with the interview !!



get ready to listen to endless hours of guitar wanking , bass slapping , drum banging , etc.,etc.

MAAN thats TOTALLY fine by me! ive worked jobs WAY worse...like throwing boxes on a truck while its 95 degrees outside and its about 10+ degrees warmer WITH a fan blowing! lol
i have friends who work in music stores , and they say that after a while , you learn to ignore the noise ...

Originally Posted by Tampabass

Hey, I have no idea about what to expect as a Guitar Center employee, but I can give you some general advice regarding a successful job interview.

Look the interviewer in the eye.
Dress appropriately - if you're not sure, err on the side of overdressing.
Don't fidget.
Research all you can about the company so you can go let them know you're ready to hit the ground running - you're already well informed on what brands they carry, their customer service policies, etc.
On the other hand, don't come off as a know-it-all (even if you do know way more than they do).
Convey, without bragging, the idea that you understand what musicians want/need, because of your background as a musician.
And most importantly (drum roll) act as if you REALLY WANT the job. Too often, job candidates try to play it too cool and act as if it doesn't matter either way whether they get the job. In this economy (blah blah blah, etc., etc.) that doesn't work.

Sorry if you already know this, but I thought I'd pass it on.

thats actually great advice!

[etechstan]

Work at GC?! I hate going in there period. I can't stand the wanking guitards when ever I stop in.

[jaywa]

I've heard that all new GC employees are issued earplugs upon hiring. OSHA regs or some such...

All kidding aside... good luck to the OP. If you care enough about your craft to be on TalkBass then I expect you would certainly be an asset as a salesperson.

[bajocallao]

I worked at my local GC 2 months before my oldest child was born. Then quit after the 1st month when I saw the pay check. Don't know about yours but mine did not give you the discount until you reach 6 months of working there.
ditto jaywa
They hated when I said I had to leave early to do a gig! LOL

[MNAirHead]

Discuss your love of sales -- especially telephone.

This will trump any music love.

Tim

[phillipkregg]

Originally Posted by GODSENT

... not so much worried about the money cuz i have income from other sources comming in .....

Whatever you do, don't tell em that.

From what I've heard, you won't be there long if you aren't selling like crazy.

[Smokin' Toaster]

The 5 or 6 of my friends and fellow musicians that have worked there all said the same thing: "If you think you hate GC from a customer's viewpoint, you will learn new levels of hate for GC when you become an employee."

That said, good luck, I hope you prove them wrong.

[tycobb73]

the one acquaintence I knew who worked at GC quit when his sales went down because his customers would come in on his day off and tell the manager that they had been talking to him but the manager would take half the sale as his commission when he just got the box for the dude after my acquainaence had made the sale the day before.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

The 5 or 6 of my friends and fellow musicians that have worked there all said the same thing: "If you think you hate GC from a customer's viewpoint, you will learn new levels of hate for GC when you become an employee."

That said, good luck, I hope you prove them wrong.

^This. For real.

[johnboy65]

Well I worked at GC for a couple of years, and most of what has been said here is true. The primary thing I would suggest is that you keep your energy up and be prepared to answer questions about your main instruments and accesories that go with them (pickups, cables, boxes...whatever)

[phillipkregg]

Originally Posted by tycobb73

the one acquaintence I knew who worked at GC quit when his sales went down because his customers would come in on his day off and tell the manager that they had been talking to him but the manager would take half the sale as his commission when he just got the box for the dude after my acquainaence had made the sale the day before.

This happens on commission based jobs all the time. I've known people to get screwed like this at car lots, shoe stores, insurance sales, etc.

[rmkesler]

Good luck. I hope it goes well for you.

[xgator4u]

Originally Posted by GODSENT

i have experience in sales, and i LOVE music, i know a bit about bass, bass gear and keyboard synths

You are obviously OVER qualified.

Good luck